ATOR: demand for foreign tours is growing amid restrictions in the regions of the Russian Federation

Russian tourists choose holidays in Egypt, Turkey and the UAE for the November holidays. The demand for foreign tours is growing, as per Maya Lomidze, executive director of the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR).

“On foreign destinations, demand is growing, Egypt has become the leader, and Turkey, as expected, lost its leadership. But Egypt is based on regular transportation, since charter programs to be launched only from November 9. The Dominican Republic is boosting, and it has a chance to shift the Arab Emirates. Hungary has become the leader among European countries. It is clear that our tourists miss a comfortable holiday in a European city," she said at a press conference.

The expert added that the demand for overseas vacations increased by 40% in 2021 compared to the same period in 2020.

"Some tour operators say that their demand is 1,5 - 2 times higher than in 2020. And the demand in some destinations is comparable to 2019. This indicates a relative recovery of outbound tourism," Maya Lomidze stressed.

Lomidze added that the growth of demand for abroad tours is taking place against the backdrop of tourist interest in tours inside Russia, which is associated with the introduction of restrictions in many regions to prevent the spread of coronavirus. There are now 30 of such regions out of 85.